The animate sand fist rising from the arena floor punches Cladissa. She rolls with the punch, and manages to avoid the brunt of its force.
The red giant begins to hack the animate chains to pieces with wide sweeps of his huge sword.
The girallons realize they are dealing with serious threats, and begin to attack the foes nearest to them with savage delight. Kol Voss and Grommesson are torn open by the beasts, leaving them with nasty wounds. Gianluca on the other hand somehow manages to dodge, parry or otherwise avoid the two apes who focus on him.
Thrassk can hear the beast standing in the air directly over him as it attacks Gianluca. He growls and leaps up into the ape biting and clawing at it. Thrassk can't get a grip with his teeth, but he manages to eviscerate the beast with his talons. He drops back to the arena floor along with the corpse of the girallon.
The crowd watching the combat goes wild with cheering. Adril glowers from his royal box.
Adrenia continues to rub her eyes at the dust and blinking, trying to clear them.
Argor turns to the red giant, and targets it with some transmutation magic bolstered by his Arcane will.
The four bralani, flying about in their air form, all send arcs of lightning through the two northern apes. Perks of thunder echo forth from the blasts in rapid successions, causing the arena to rumble. The giant turns into a small snail, and the girallons both are burned by the lightning running through them.
Cladissa breathes a sigh of relief when Argor removes the red giant from the battlefield. She directs the stone column to attack the girallon tearing into Grommesson, then targets the northernmost girallon with a spell to freeze it in place.
Gianluca smiles as--even while blinded--Thrassk manages to take down one of the apes. The Honeyed Hand flaps twice, coming face to face with the next nearest ape, and again unleashes a series of magically-quickened blows. His huge greatsword cleaves through the alien ape's flesh, putting it down for good. As he attacks, he says a silent prayer to Arshea and sends a burst of healing light over Kol Voss.
"Cole, get Grommesson his sword!" Cladissa directs. Her familiar gives himself a surge of strength and grabs up the large falchion on the ground. He lifts it up and puts it in the grasping, blind hands of the beast that is Grommesson.
The beast who is Grommesson roars in pain and grabs the sword given to him. He moves toward the large tremors that he believes are the enemy and slashes with his huge falchion.
Over the next few seconds the group manages to take down the grappled and held girallons remaining on the field.
Adril’s thrilled laughter echoes throughout the arena. “Well done, my little apprentices. You’ve bested my pets. Now face my CHAMPION!”
Cladissa will hex Grommesson with Regenerative Sinew, granting him fast healing 5 for six rounds.
Gianluca lets his eyes half-close for a moment, and concentrates on the pleasures of the flesh for a moment, regaining some divine energy.
"Hestram? Why do this? Why align yourself with evil powers when there's so much good you could do instead?" Cladissa calls out.
As Hestram is making his declaration, Kol Voss's companions finish freeing their captive friends, and immediately retreat to the limited protection of the portcullis-blocked doorways around the edges of the arena.
At that moment, doors open on the north side of the arena, just below the luxury box. A human male, dressed in the regalia of an Ulfen jarl, and two multi-legged beasts step from the darkness. The Pathfinders instantly recognize the Ulfen as none other than Skelg the Ripper, Adril’s sparing partner and, apparently, now his champion in Arl.
The Jarl smiles and laughs. “If you could have foreseen this, I bet I would have frozen to death! I can’t wait to share the story of your demise with Natalya.”
Hestram leers at Cladissa. "Good...evil? There are only the strong and the weak. I grew tired of being denied my rightful place at the head of the Society, so I decided to take it."
"Kill these fools, Skelg!"
Initiative:
Reptile things 16.5
Party 8.6
Skelg 6
The massive many legged reptilians dart forward like snakes, striking at the animate column and the closest bralani.
One of the beasts grabs the closest bralani in its mouth and begins ripping it to shreds with its eight hind claws.
The other bites the column, but can't get a solid grip on the stone. The animated piece of stone rips free.
Argor snarls at Skelg when he appears. He had nearly died to save this man, and now he betrays them. He points a finger at the man and a ray of black energy spirals out to the man and strikes him in the chest.
"You! I nearly died trying to rescue you! And now, to learn that you were betraying us the entire time!? Your demise will be drawn out, painful, and the thing of legend!"
Meanwhile, Adrenia heals Grommesson again.
The Bralani's each send out another arc of lightning.
Cladissa's eyes go wide when Skelg makes his appearance. Her surprise sours when he taunts them, and she can't help but turn her head in shock at Argor's inflamed response.
Their mission to save Skelg had always been a sore spot for Cladissa -- not only had they been arrested for a failed attempt to steal the artifact, but Argor had been cursed by it and they had to leave it with a winter witch rather than recover it for the Society. Although, with recent developments being what they are, perhaps that was for the best.
She bares her teeth in her own snarl and the violet energy of her eyes turns an arctic blue. "Skelg, you should have learned not to mess with witches-- especially if you like to stay warm."
If Skelg throws off the entombment, she directs the animated column to attack him. If he's iced up, then it attacks the nearest lizard.
Argor snarls at Skelg when he appears. He had nearly died to save this man, and now he betrays them. He points a finger at the man and a ray of black energy spirals out to the man and strikes him in the chest.
"You! I nearly died trying to rescue you! And now, to learn that you were betraying us the entire time!? Your demise will be drawn out, painful, and the thing of legend!"
Meanwhile, Adrenia heals Grommesson again.
The Bralani's each send out another arc of lightning.
The reptiles seem completely immune to damage from electricity. Skelg manages to dodge the worst of the lightning, but does get minorly shocked.
Cladissa's eyes go wide when Skelg makes his appearance. Her surprise sours when he taunts them, and she can't help but turn her head in shock at Argor's inflamed response.
Their mission to save Skelg had always been a sore spot for Cladissa -- not only had they been arrested for a failed attempt to steal the artifact, but Argor had been cursed by it and they had to leave it with a winter witch rather than recover it for the Society. Although, with recent developments being what they are, perhaps that was for the best.
She bares her teeth in her own snarl and the violet energy of her eyes turns an arctic blue. "Skelg, you should have learned not to mess with witches-- especially if you like to stay warm."
Skelg bursts from the ice with ease. He seems mostly unbothered by cold as well. The column lands two blows on Skelg, but can't get a hold of the powerful warrior.
Gianluca gives Argor a concerned glance. Still so much rage in him. Understandable...but I really must help him release into bliss and abandon more, I worry that he could give in again to his darker impulses...
Realizing now's not the time for discussion, Gianluca steps forward and launches into a blur of hasted swings against the nearest lizard.
The beast who is Grommesson roars in pain as his wounds knit together. Sunlight pierces his eyes as his blindness passes. He moves around the animated column to engage the giant reptile with his giant blade.
The massive many legged reptilians dart forward like snakes, striking at the animate column and the closest bralani. One of the beasts grabs the closest bralani in its mouth and begins ripping it to shreds with its eight hind claws. The other bites the column, but can't get a solid grip on the marble.
Argor snarls at Skelg when he appears. He had nearly died to save this man, and now he betrays them. He points a finger at the man and a ray of black energy spirals out to the man and strikes him in the chest.
"You! I nearly died trying to rescue you! And now, to learn that you were betraying us the entire time!? Your demise will be drawn out, painful, and the thing of legend!"
Meanwhile, Adrenia heals Grommesson again.
The Bralani's each send out another arc of lightning. The reptiles seem completely immune to damage from electricity. Skelg manages to dodge the worst of the lightning, but does get minorly shocked.
Cladissa's eyes go wide when Skelg makes his appearance. Her surprise sours when he taunts them, and she can't help but turn her head in shock at Argor's inflamed response.
Their mission to save Skelg had always been a sore spot for Cladissa -- not only had they been arrested for a failed attempt to steal the artifact, but Argor had been cursed by it and they had to leave it with a winter witch rather than recover it for the Society. Although, with recent developments being what they are, perhaps that was for the best.
She bares her teeth in her own snarl and the violet energy of her eyes turns an arctic blue. "Skelg, you should have learned not to mess with witches-- especially if you like to stay warm." Cladissa calls down her ice tomb hex on the ulfen. Icy winds whirl around him, trying to coat him in ice. Skelg bursts from the ice with ease. He seems mostly unbothered by cold as well. The column lands two blows on Skelg, but can't get a hold of the powerful warrior.
Gianluca gives Argor a concerned glance. Still so much rage in him. Understandable...but I really must help him release into bliss and abandon more, I worry that he could give in again to his darker impulses... Realizing now's not the time for discussion, Gianluca steps forward and launches into a blur of hasted swings against the nearest lizard. The Honeyed Hand leaves several deep wounds on the behir.
The beast who is Grommesson roars in pain as his wounds knit together. Sunlight pierces his eyes as his blindness passes. He moves around the animated column to engage the giant reptile with his giant blade.
Kol Voss shouts a challenge to Adril, declaring that they must fght the Right of Ascension for control of the Starsword. At this challenge, the crowd slowly quiets as those who didn’t hear the challenge begin asking what’s happening. Adril ignores this, but the crowd begins to shout at him in Azlanti, demanding to know when he will oblige Kol Voss and fght for control of the “tribe”.
Skelg begins slowly advancing, his axe cutting lazy whirls through the air in front of him.
=============================
The reptiles continue to attack, one advancing a bit as it does so.
The one holding the bralani manages to tear the celestial apart. The other bites at Grommesson, but the beast swats aside its maw with the flat of his falchion.
Argor continues to sneer at the traitor, sending another beam of black energy at him before moving a bit further back and up.
Adrenia moves and heals Kol Voss a bit with the wand, while the Bralani each hit the reptiles with blasts of furious wind.
__________
::Kol Voss just issued his challenge. It's gotten the crowd's attention:: Cladissa tells her companions telepathically.
She can't help but frown, though, seeing Skelg casually move forward drawing attacks with no attempt at retaliation. She eyes him closely, suddenly doubtful about his very existence.
The beast who is Grommesson quickly slashes at the giant reptile with many cuts.
::Kol Voss just issued his challenge. It's gotten the crowd's attention:: Cladissa tells her companions telepathically.
She can't help but frown, though, seeing Skelg casually move forward drawing attacks with no attempt at retaliation. She eyes him closely, suddenly doubtful about his very existence.
[Dice=Will (disbelieve)]1d20+12
Cladissa has her broom float her several feet in the air while she watches her animated column pummel Skelg.
She then gives him another wintry glare, trying to again entomb him in ice.
Thrassk retroactively moves up to one of the lizards.
He begins to bite and claw the larger reptilian, hoping to take it down.
Thrassk finishes what Gianluca started, and takes down the Behir.
Argor continues to sneer at the traitor, sending another beam of black energy at him before moving a bit further back and up.
Adrenia moves and heals Kol Voss a bit with the wand, while the Bralani each hit the reptiles with blasts of furious wind.
Gianluca vaults over the fallen corpse of the Behir. As he does he swings his greatsword at Skeld, attempting to knock him backward.
_____________
Skelg is grabbed by the column as Gianluca knocks him passt Thrassk (who also bites him). The enervated rager tries to break free from the animated object's grip.
The alien behir attacks the column holding skelg.
It can barely scratch the hard surface of the stone.
Argor, seeing Skelg snatched up, decides to take a more direct route at some vengeance since the Ulfen man is now in the grasp of the animated column. He sends five pulses of magical force searing into the man! He then turns to Adrenia and motions his head towards the snail, and tells her in Celestial "Go collect our friend. We may have need of him later."
The small angel nods and flies over to the snail and grabs it. Meanwhile, the Bralani continue to blast foes with their whirlwinds.
__________
Cladissa shakes her head as she watches the Ulfen warrior endure a painful assortment of indignities. "Skelg, please. Surrender before we have to kill you," she says as she wipes her brow to add a drop of sweat to her spell. She sends a black ray streaking towards the rager.
She sends a mental command to the column to have it pin its foe.
The beast who is Grommesson slashes at the giant reptile again with many cuts.
The beast who is Grommesson slashes at the giant reptile again with many cuts.
[dice=+1 Keen Adamantine Falchion with power attack]1d20+21+1+2
[dice=if hit, damage]2d6+25+2[dice=+1 Keen Adamantine Falchion with power attack & Haste]1d20+21+1+2
[dice=if hit, damage]2d6+25+2[dice=+1 Keen Adamantine Falchion with power attack]1d20+12+1+2
[dice=if hit, damage]2d6+25+2
Bestial Grommesson hacks twice into the remaining behir with his thick cleaver-like blade. On the second blow there is a fountain of crimson blood as he hacks the beast's head off.
Thrassk steps up and tears into the raging Ulfen, blind with his own battle fury.
After two bites, and an introduction to the rending abilities of Thrassk's adamantine-hard talons Skelg looks like he is barely clinging to life.
DC 17 refex for half
Kol Voss immediately shouts again. "FIGHT ME, YOU COWARDLY BEAST!"
Adril shouts, "Not in this lifetime you filthy redskin!"
The crowd that so recently supported the new King Adril immediately turns violent and begins shouting in Azlanti for the death of the Beast. Even the princess, chained to the floor beside him, shouts "You spineless coward!" She then spits angrily at Hestram.
Adril initially looks angry, like he might react violently. Then the crowd starts to climb up into his luxury box. His angry look quickly shifts to panic. He unchains the princess and drags her behind him as he flees through the royal box's rear exit. "You'll never stop me, you Freaks!"
Members of the audience-turned-mob begin to attack the device which appears to be powering the field over the arena. It looks like they will destroy it in a matter of moments.
"Cole! See to Grom!" Cladissa shouts to her familiar to streaks over to where the raging beast stands.
In a purring voice, the sylvanshee whispers, "Stay focused. Our foe tries to flee."
With Cole calming Grommesson, Cladissa focuses on chasing down Hestram. "The animated column will continue to pin Skelg for a while yet. I can teleport a few of us into the box, but not everyone."
Kol Voss shakes his head. "We must stay together. He will be heading for the airship docks. I know the way. My people will have the containment field down soon enough..."
As he speaks, the field flickers for a moment at the crowd continues to beat the generator with whatever objects aren't nailed down.
Thrassk points to Skelg. "Ssshouldn't we execute the prisssoner before we leave? Unlesssss we plan to baby sssit the vile traitor..."
"Execute?!?" Cladissa says, shocked and looking sick at the idea. "No, I couldn't even... no."
She turns to look at the man pinned by her animated object. "Skelg, do you surrender? Do you yield? Otherwise, I'll have to, I don't know, turn you into a mouse or something. Or would you like to be a statue?"
Argor remains silent, glaring at the man a moment before saying, ”We do not have time for this. We must pursue Hestram.”
"He hasss no honor. Sssurely Hessstram and his agentsss have earned death through their actionsss. It would be unjussst to jussst leave him here."
Cladissa moves to Skelg and wrests his axe from his hands. "Maybe he has earned death, or maybe he's been duped just like so many others. Maybe he'll face mob justice. But I can't simply order him executed." She turns to Voss. "Take us to where Hestram will be."
As Adril flees, the crowd manages to destroy the device powering the force field. Kol and the Pathfinders are free to pursue the rogue venture-captain. Adril has gained precious seconds on the group. Kol leads them through the gate under the royal stand at a run. As they chase after Hestram through the maze of hallways beneath the arena’s stands, they hear a huge, booming roar.
Moments later, Voss and the Pathfinders emerge into the city outside the arena. They see an airship — essentially a large sailing vessel similar to those on Golarion, but with leathery wings and stabilizers — sailing quickly up away from a nearby skydock, trailing a cloud of thick black smoke. Dozens of citizens of Arl lay dead across the skydock and several other docked airships are burning. One ship, however, seems intact.
Kol Voss points to the ship. "Everyone get on, quickly. The Beast has my sister! If you are cowards, you can stay. I am not. I shall fight him in the clouds if I have to!” and with that he races across the skydock, a handful of his men following him.
I should have flown, Cladissa thinks as they come upon the airfield and see Hestram flying away. Still, she hadn't wanted to be without the protection of Grommesson or Gianluca, and she wanted to make sure she was following Hestram's scent just in case he tried a bait-and-switch.
Looking at the axe in one hand and her broom in the other, she twists her face in irritation at Voss's questioning their bravery. Her spider legs extend out to grip the broom handle as she wills it into the sky after the airship.
"I've got my own, thank you!" she says to him and gives chase.